Before there were fire departments or rescue squads, neighbors helped neighbors in their time of tragedy. In the 19th century, people fought house fires primarily with bucket brigades, using water from wells or rivers, or from water hauled in on wagons.
In the fall of 1888, three destructive fires in Shelby led to citizens signing a petition asking the state legislature to allow the town of Shelby to issue bonds for the purchase of fire equipment.
The NC General Assembly authorized the Town of Shelby to hold a vote on the bond issue. A vote was held but the ballet proposal was defeated.
It is unclear as to when the first fire fighting equipment arrived in Cleveland County, but the photos below show Shelby, Kings Mountain, and Fallston all had fire engines after the turn of the century.
A 1923 audit of the town of Shelby includes a line item of outstanding debt to the American LaFrance Fire Engine Company of $1000.
The timeline below includes large fires and notable events that took place in the history of Cleveland County with regard to fire and rescue.
1856
Wilson Springs Hotel burns. It had been the single most important tourist attraction for Cleveland County. So important that the NC legislature had stipulated in 1841 that the new county’s county seat could be no more than four miles from Wilson Springs. Twelve years later, a new hotel would be built.
October 30, 1888
The Wray Block on Lafayette Street in Shelby burns. It is referred to as “The Great Fire.” Thankfully the losses were in property and not lives.
September 8, 1907
The Cleveland Springs Hotel, built in 1868 to replace the first hotel at the Wilson Springs site, burns. Three people perish.
June 18, 1924
A severe electrical storm causes numerous fires in Shelby and other areas of the county.
May 25, 1925
A fire on West Marion Street in Shelby leaves five families homeless.
February 23, 1928
A fire at Shelby’s Central Hotel on West Warren Street kills three people. The three who died were trying to awaken the other hotel guests to get out. Due to damage at the adjacent First National Bank, bank operations had to move to a temporary location across and down West Warren.
August 28, 1928
The McKnight Building, temporarily housing the First National Bank on West Warren Street, collapses. Six people were killed; 12 were injured. One of the injured died four months later from complications.
This photo of the collapse was apparently taken from an upper story window in the Central Hotel looking south across West Warren Street. The Gardner Building is damaged; the McKnight Building has collapsed. Photo by Forrest Ellis. October 15, 1929
The Cleveland Springs Hotel, rebuilt after the 1907 fire, burns again. This time the hotel is not rebuilt.
November 21, 1944
A disastrous fire in Fallston claims the life of Tom Sweezy and Claude Ross. Another man was injured and property damage was extensive.
March 5, 1950
A major fire on West Warren Street destroys Kendall Drug, Bridges Auto Parts, and the Ellis Bicycle Shop. Soon after, a Sears store was built on the site.
December 23, 1977
Six are killed in a house fire five miles north of Shelby. The following day, after having assisted in that fire, Fallston Volunteer Fireman Carl A. Beam dies from a heart attack soon after working a second fire.
December 1978
Six die in a house fire on Frederick Street in Shelby.
May 25, 1979
A fire and explosion destroys several buildings on West Warren Street in Shelby. Four firemen and a city gas utilities employee are killed. Later, arson is found to have been the cause.
https://www.wral.com/video/a-look-back-at-the-deadly-1979-fire-in-shelby/19696119/
September 28, 1983
An explosion occurs at No. 3 Volunteer Fire Station near Patterson Springs. No one is injured.
Cleveland County History 